The Quest

For some people, a quest may be encased in a religious experience—for others, it might be a crisis or a dramatic change in personal circumstances, such as a birth or death. And while religion is the spark that lights the fire within some individuals, it can also imposed a limiting structure with rules and belief systems that interfere with true personal growth—especially when the distinctions between religion and spirituality become blurred.

We believe that our purpose in being here is to grow spiritually. We do this in a variety of ways—none of which are better or lesser than others; but, rather, are chosen by us because we are at various stages of spiritual unfoldment. The goals of peace, integrity, clarity, compassion and in particular, the balance between mind and body through personal and spiritual development are essential to spiritual development, regardless of the particular path one chooses to follow. Spirit [God] is equally present in the job as in the remote mountainside.”

In the end, setting out on a spiritual quest—may be less a choice than it is a necessity. What often makes people begin a quest, is a feeling restlessness, and that something beyond is coming through to us, says Andrews. Begin by seeing your intentions. Set your intention to live a happier or fulfilling life. Speaking strictly to that intention will lead us to being aware of guides or teachers around us, someone who can help on the path. Again, it’s essential to set your intention to reclaim your own happiness and connection with life. I feel that the spiritual path to greater consciousness has been –part of the human experience forever, and always will be. - Fit Yoga

Fearing Factor

Whenever I am alone with my quiet times, I’ve always wondered who is braver—the person who has no fear of the one who has much fear but overcomes it. I fall into the second category most of the time. Imagine you do too. Almost every day we face circumstances we think might be too much to handle.

I have known many people filled with courage. My favorite is my mother when she was still alive. A pregnant women who was about to deliver her baby after a month of her due date. But delivered it early. This was happened to her again as her first baby was also a premature baby. She knows that it’s a risk for the baby’s condition when she will be delivered in premature way. The women had all her courage to face it as she was aware that it could be the cause of the death of her unborn child.

A friend who face the full courage about her mom who was on coma. He had to be strong to accept what will be the result in the end, as he knew that very few were healed with this kind of illness. But with all the strength he manages to have that courage to face the will the truth.
A woman tells her spiritual voyage has taken her through the darkness and the light. She struggles a lot with doubt and how a high purpose overcome it.

The ultimate triumph of faith over fear, of life over death; yet even Jesus shivered in the Garden of Gethsemane. To be afraid is to be human. It is our faith that bridges the gap between fear and action.

Dream Big

Somewhere I read that a goal is simply a dream that has been shared. So I want to share some of my dreams with you:

♥ Work Abroad.
♥ Help needy people.
♥ Lend a hand to Charitable Institutions.
♥ Drive my latest model car.
♥ Have my own house.
♥ Be famous as an athlete.
♥ Climb Mt. Everest.
♥ Go to a beach by myself.
♥ Observe a vow of silence for a day.
♥ Be a dog for a day like tikoy.

All right, so that last one is a little off the wall. But the rest are achievable, as I read one article written by Bob Haverstick which reminded me in his story Never Too Late. His organization makes wishes and dream come true for senior citizens, but really you are never too young or too old to dream, right? For me, dreams are a kind of spiritual yearning, a form of hope that is rooted in the belief that a loving God wants the best for us. So maybe God will allow me to Climb the Mt. Everest. But even if I don’t, the act of dreaming is a form of faith in and of itself. By dreaming we practice hope. We visualize the future and start to bring our dreams in life.

I want to know what your dreams are. Have you thought of anything you dream? We may not be able to make them come true, but we can let God and ourselves feel that we have a goal in our life. Isn’t it? And it’s all up to God if He will give it to us.

The Secret of Living

Good morning everyone. Ones again I’m greeting everyone a very Happy New Year. Start of the year 2010. I wish we should all start the year with a positive views in life. J. Carie Sexton gave his thoughts about the secret of living. Let me share you one article I read. This is good one.

The Secret of Living

To appreciate beauty and the gifts nature brings,
To discover the pleasure of life’s simplest things,
To remember the blessings we received every day,
To explore new horizons as we travel our way—
This is the Secret of Living

To find hope in each rainbow that appears in the sky,
To give comfort to strangers who may be passing by,
To keep smiling whenever there’s a task to be done,
To be gracious in losing and give thanks when we’ve won—
This is the Secret of Living.

To build meaningful values in this life that we live,
To be full of compassion and be willing to give,
To regards as a treasure every friendship we’ve made
And to find peace and love even time cannot fade—
This is the Secret of Living.

Basilica of St. Mary Major

According to an ancient tradition, the Blessed Mother appeared to a certain John, declaring that she wished a church to be dedicated in her honor in summer. Accordingly, Pope Liberius built a church on the Esquiline Hill in 352, which was later enlarged and consecrated by Sixtus III in 435. The Basilica contains the relic of the crib of Bethlehem, in which Christ was laid at this birth.

Visual source: media.photobucket

Worry-free Holidays (1 of 2)

Christmas is a time for spreading cheer and handing out gifts, but advice comes in handy too during this happy season. Here are answers to a few simple questions that may make your holidays truly worry-free:

Q: I am new at the office where I work as an Executive Secretary. I have been made to understand that it is de rigueur around here for secretaries to vie gifts to their bosses. Do you have any gift ideas that would be simple and practical enough, and yet fit a secretary a budget?

A: since you are his secretary, and are in contact with him practically the whole day, you yourself are in the best position to decide what gift would be most suited to your boss. Two rules to remember: One, do not give anything intimate, like an article of clothing. Your relationship with your boss is not personal, and it would not be appropriate for him to receive personal gifts from you. He could misconstrue this as an “invitation”. Rule number two: Practical, usable gifts are better. A tin of his favorite ground coffee or biscuits never fails, and does not cost too much either. Other choices would be a book he has always wanted to read, or a cassette tape of his favorite classical music.

Q: If an officemate or friend gives me a gift, am I obliged to give one in return?

A: Only if you can afford it. if you can’t,, a sincere, handwritten note of thanks wishing the giver a “Merry Christmas” will be much appreciated.

Q: My husband and I have been invited to have Christmas dinner at my in-laws’ place. My sisters-in-law, who are all very good cooks, have volunteered to handle the cooking chores. Since I’m not as good a cook as they are, what can I contribute to the dinner so I’m not left out?

A: Offer to handle some of the non-cooking chores, like calling up other guests to remind them, decorating and fixing up the place, or handling the marketing. Bu offering to help them this way, you save them time that they can use to complete other, more important tasks. Believe me, your efforts will be just as appreciated.

Q: I’ll be hosting a party at home for some close friends. could you give me some quick and inexpensive decorating tips? I plan to have the party outdoors, on my porch.

A: Outdoor parties are the easiest to decorate for, since you can use the natural scenery as inexpensive props. Why not string small shrubs with little Tivoli lights? You can hang tinfoil stars or icicles from tree branches. Or make a cheerful centerpiece from apples, candy canes and sprigs of green from your tree or wreath.

Worry-free Holidays (2 of 2)

Q: I am sales executive of a large, multinational company. during Christmas, I get a lot of gifts from clients and suppliers, and more often than not, I end up with things like four fruitcakes, seven gift baskets, and so on. Would it be all right for me to “recycle” some of these gifts and give them to other people?

A: that is perfectly all right, but make sure you don’t end up diving the same gift back to its original giver. Keep track of which “Recycled gifts” you give to whom by keeping a written list.

Q: Is it proper to give—and receive—cash gifts at Christmas?

A: It depends on the age and status of the recipients. Young children below ten years of age would prefer simple gift wrapped times. For them, half the thrill in receiving a gift lies in tearing open the gaily—colored wrapping. You are safer giving cash gifts to older children and teenagers who understand the concept of money and who are old enough to make decisions about what they would really like. Moreover, giving them money gives them the freedom to make a decision and saves you from having to take back a gift that is not the right size or color. Adolescents grow very quickly, and are very sensitive to fads, and what you buy may not be currently “in”.

Cash gifts would not be appropriate for a person in authority, such as boss or supervisor. They are also not available for older relatives, who, like a boss would be more appreciative of the trouble you went through trying to pick out a suitable gift for them instead of resorting to just stuffing money in an envelop.

Q: If I receive a gift that does not fit, how can I return it without offending the giver?

A: if you know where she bought the gift, try bringing it directly to the store to exchange it for the same item of the correct size. This will save the giver the trouble of actually having to go to the store herself. If not, explain to her that you like the gift so much that you can’t bear not to wear (or use) it because it’s the wrong size, and ask if she would accompany you to the store where she bought it, to have it changed. Don’t forget to thank her, and emphasize that you only want the size, not the item, changed.

Christmas can really be an enjoyable time for all concerned. With the right information and advice, celebrating the holidays is no fuss at all. - Nestle

The Holy Door

The Holy Door symbolizes Jesus Christ, who said: “I am the gate: whoever enters through me will be saved” (John 10:9). As it was prophesied. “This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter” (Psalm 118:20). By passing through the Holy Door we profess that Jesus is the Messiah.

Visual source: travelpod

The Pieta of Michelangelo

You can find this beautiful creation of Michelangelo inside the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. It is "The Pieta of Michelangelo."

Visual source: panathinaeos

The Basilica of St. Peter in rome

The Jubilee 2000 begins on Christmas Eve of December 25, 1999, with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and ends with its closing on Epiphany, January 6, 2001.

Visual source: ivarfjeld

Sunset

“Sunset in our life”. Simple words and yet deep meaning. There are times in our life that we sometimes feel that it’s the end of the world. It’s natural. But after the storm in our life there will always be a light. We should just trust to our God Almighty. He will not give us trial if He thinks we can’t handle it. Have faith . . . that’s all we need to do. Soon there will be a “Sunrise”.

Special Day of Daddy!

Today is the special day of my father. If he was still alive today, he is already 83 years old. In this picture he is still at the peak of his badminton career. He became the First National Badminton Champion (Men’s Division). I am proud to be the daughter of him. “Happy Birthday Daddy!”

Icon in the Church of the Transfiguation

Beloved Mother

“I love you, Mother,”
“I love you better than a tongue can tell,”
“I miss you.”

Power Up

Good news is always welcome news. Every bit of good news, no matter how seemingly trivial in the larger order of things it may see, is literally a breath of fresh air. That is why we become ecstatic about every small triumph that we learn about, even if they involve people whom we do not personally know, situations we ourselves have not yet experienced, and places we have yet to visit.
We become optimistic about any scientific breakthrough with its promise of a better life that is hopefully in harmony with nature. We feel proud when we hear of everyday people returning to authority large sums of money and saying that no matter how tempting the find is, they simply could not keep what’s not theirs.

We become thankful to public servants who stay true to the cause not to gain media mileage but to carry out their sworn duty. We are as jubilant as every single Filipino who surpassed seemingly insurmountable odds—surviving life-threatening diseases and or calamities, and reforming their lives and improving on what used to be a way ward existence.

Hearing good news can recharge our “batteries.” Like a holiday, it can relax the mind and relieve stress. Good news always brings a smile to our faces. It brings hope that no matter how bad things are, they won’t stay that way. Well, they could take a turn for the worse, but then all things pass. We must have a firm resolve that we can prevail on it all. – Bato Balani

L O V E

May the Lord make your Love for one
another and for all people grow more and

more and become as great as our Love for
you. In this way he will strengthen you,
and you will be perfect and holy in the
presence of our God and Father when our

Lord Jesus comes with all who belong to him.

1 Thessalonians 3:12

Thank You, Lord

Thank you; Lord, for my parents dear
For all my loved ones far and near;
Thank you for my brothers and sisters
And for all the help I get from others;
For my country, Lord, I thank you, too.
And for my friends all tried and true; of the sun
And thank you, Lord, for the heat
For the light of the moon, for all the fun;
For all the beautiful things around me
The mountains, rivers, birds, the sights I see;
And above all, Lord, for Your life which You gave
For the pain You endured that all may be saved.

I was reading this poem about thanking the Lord. It was a nice words to feel. My thought of sharing this with you is to be aware that we should all thank our God for the graces He gave us. He don’t get tired of giving us all the blessings we receive. All we have to do is just say a simple word . . . “Thank you, Lord”.

Visual courtesy: turnbacktogod

Hi ... I'm Tikoy!

Like my shot here? . . . :) Will show you many more in the future. I love to be seen by many. Tell me if I'm cute with this picture and I will show you moreeeeeee!

Mariah loves to smile

Keep smiling!

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween to everyone!

To Right A Wrong

Every wrong doing is a barrier separating us from God. To move closer to Him, the barrier must be removed. Restitution (described in the dictionary as “any act of restoring . . . of giving an equivalent for loss or damage”) is one way of accomplishing this. It is not easy, but if you work at it, you’ll find the rewards are great.

First, read the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19) and not how he decided that before he could become a follower of Jesus he had to make restitution for his past dishonesty: “And if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” Then review the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). Make your prayer something like this: “Lord, I have done many wrong things in my life. Help me to see now which ones I can rectify. Show me how to go about this so that in a small way it will ease the hurt of mankind and glorify You.”

Second, make a list of the wrongs you want to right and submit it prayerfully to God. Remember this is a private matter between you and God. Do not let anyone else see this list. Overzealousness in confessing sins is wrong if it involves someone else and hurts is or her reputation.

Third, write down after each wrong the action you feel guided to take. A letter of apology; or, if there seems no way to pay a person back, send an equivalent sum to a church or charity. Restoring a bad relationship is thorny; one way is to seek the other person out and personally admit your mistake. Go further and accept responsibility for things that happened which you feel were not your fault. If your effort is rejected, don’t feel hurt. You tried. Te wounds may take time to heal. Try again later.

Restitution is a good way to deal wit an overgrown ego. It also strengthen one’s faith and makes it harder to beackslide. The worker who returned the equipment he had sneaked out of his company found his will to resist temptations stronger. The more so because he acknowledged his guilt to is boss and fellow workers. Restitution always const something—money, pride, position—but the alternative is worse, and inner discontent.

Righting a wrong smooths your way to God agan!

Source: “ Daily Guidepost ”

Let Your Little Light Shine (2 of 2)

The clues to our “accelerating universe” may just be in the thorough investigation of nearby galaxies, supernovas, and neutron stars down to the minute quark-gluon plasmas and neutrinos. As new technologies are developed to allow scientist to probe deeper into space, new challenges emerge. The new findings may contest the existing theories that have been the bulwark of the physical world and its many phenomena. But still, scientist build upon these little findings to search the skies for even more clues.

Life is like that—a continuing quest for illumination. We sometimes feel that we know so much. Other times, we feel that what we recently learned and discovered have actually unearthed another puzzle, an answer leading to another question. Even so, our little discoveries and experiments help enrich us to become a better person. We can actually use our “little lessons” to encourage others overcome their own challenges.

If travelers and explorers seek for the lighthouse nearby or the brightest stars to guide their path, the “little lessons” to encourage others overcome their own challenges.

If travelers and explorers seek for the lighthouse nearby or the brightest stars to guide their path, the little “lights” that researchers leave behind become the “guiding lights” for new explorations.

When others wallow in shadows, your “little light” may just be the flicker of hope that others need for them to prod on with life. Aren’t you going to let your little light shine and warm others?

And at times when life becomes gloomy, instead of bowing down in grief, try looking up—a beacon of light may just be shining somewhere. – Bato Balani

Let Your Little Light Shine (1 of 2)

Good morning everyone. I use to remember when I was still small, I love to play with my friends and we love to light a candle. We want to light it so that we will have a good light so that we can play well.

“One candle lights one candle, two candles light four . . . And where they shine, there is no darkness anymore.”

When we were little children, we would wish upon the first star we see at dust. We couldn’t help but get awed as tiny flickers in the infinite sky started to inhabit the cloudless dark space above us. As we grew older, we learned more about the celestial bodies residing in the universe—the Sun, the Moon, the planets, and the stars—yet the mysteries of the cosmos continue to baffle us ever to this day.

Even the experts called cosmologists are puzzled not only by the hugeness of the universe but also by the information that may just be lurking in the dark, or even lighted, areas of the immense outer space.

For many years, scientists believe that after the Big Bang, the universe will collapse with a “big crunch” due to the pull of gravity. It’s like pulling a rubber band in all directions, and the rubber band snaps back when the limit has been reached.

Recent scientific fingers, however, suggest that contrary to earlier belief—that the expansion of the universe slows down before it finally collapses—the universe is in fact expanding at a faster rate. In their quest for answers, scientists focused their attention to the stars and their environs.

The Up Side

Good morning friends. Here are some good words to some people. I want to share it with you. It’s a nice thing.

“A friend of mine, Olga, has developed her own personal definition of success. She says that ‘Success is when you are happy to go to work in the morning and happy to come back in the evening, and you are very welcome and liked in both places.’” –Scott W. Ventrella, from his book Me, Inc: How to Master the Business of Being You

“It is impossible to hold a grudge and have peace of mind at the same time. It would be like trying to have day and night exist in the same moment.” – Lee L. Jampolsky, Ph.D., author of Smile for No Good Reason

“If you always tell the truth, you do not need a good memory.” – Submitted by Guideposts reader Gwendolyn Wilson, of Laurel, Mississippi

“Happiness: something to do, somebody to love, something to look forward to.” – Adair Lara, in her new book, The Bigger the Sign, the Worse the Garage Sale

“Wake up every morning expecting blessings from God and you will not be able to count them by the end of the day.” – submitted by Guideposts reader Cynthia Scott, of Medon Tennessee

Source: Guideposts

A Sense of Wonder

You wonder. How is it possible to put a billion transistors into a slice of silicon thinner than a candy wrapper and smaller than a ten-centavo coin? You wonder how it can perform trillions of calculation per second. Your mind wanders into the factory as you try to imagine the machines that made this possible.

Well, because people share your sense of wonder, microchips of this magnitude and power are a reality today.

You wonder. Is color real? Is the blue I see the same blue that my friend sees? Do colors tell me something about the things around me? You wonder about the rainbow and the how light dances on the water during an exceptionally clear day.

Well, because others that came before you have wondered as much, the science of spectroscopy was born. Now the study of heavenly bodies becomes more precise and the healing of human bodies is made easier.

You wonder. Is there is anything other than gas, liquid or solid that exists in the universe? Now you know that plasma is the fourth state of matter and that it is the state of most matter in interstellar space.

Finally you wonder, like so many great minds have before you, whether the atom is really the basic building block of matter. This sense of wonder has led scientists to build complex and expensive machines to dissect the very essence of matter. That’s how they discovered quarks.

Children are often called “makulit” because they ask a lot of questions. They want to know so many things about the world around them. “Bakit kaya” is often heard springing from their mouths. A discovery is often punctuated by gleeful exclamations of “kaya pala!”

The sad thing is that m any of us lose this sense of wonder as we grow older. We take things for granted or we simply lose the will to wonder. A lucky few, however, never lose this and keep it well into their old age. Wondering and thinking are pleasurable daily activities that make them happy and alive.

A sense of wonder is worth keeping and enriching. It’s a treasure that can never be taken away from us. It is a bright flame that will throw a ray of light on dark paths and alleys. With a healthy sense of wonder we will never lose our way. - Bato Balani

The Right Place

I couldn’t turn my mind off. I lay in bed, exhausted from another day of work as I was alone since my parents died. Have to attend all chores at home before going to office. Life was too hectic! I’m always busy with my work. I barely had time for myself. And even less for God. In fact I hadn’t attend church mass regularly for a long time. That’s what I need, I decided. A church. But where? I said a prayer for guidance.

Suddenly a face came to mind of a happy elderly lady. I knew her for a long time. She couldn’t have weighed more than 100 pounds, but she had a giant spirit. We’d share a cup of coffee or she gave me a chicken soup as she is having her food store when I wasn’t well. She was always telling me about the church where she attended. At the slip of my mind I can’t remember her name. But I remember the church—Sta. Mesa Catholic Church. I’ll look it up. I got out of bed and padded downstairs. The church was only 15 minute walk from my home. But was it the right one for me?

The next Sunday I attended for the ten o’clock service. The church was huge! There seems to be more than 500 hundred people there. I hurried in so that I can sit in the front but it was already taken. So I got a sit from the corner center of the church. Things were a little more flashy than I was used to. Then the priest got up and asked us to greet our neighbors. I sat there nervously, not sure what should I do. all of a sudden this church idea didn’t seem like such a god thing. A man sitting in front of me turned around and smiled. The man asked, “What brings you here today?” I told him about the person I knew. “You probably don’t know her,” I said. She was quite older than me and a little fat. But I couldn’t remember her name.

“Was it Lourdes Esguerra?” he asked.

I looked at him, surprised. “Yes,” I said.

“You know,” he said, “she’s the reason why I’m here too. She encouraged me to follow my passion for ministry. I’m one of the priest at this church now.”

Yes, I was in the right place after all.

Keep it Big

Good morning everyone. I read one good article. Each and every one of us wants a fuller prayer life. We always wanted to be connected to God, as He will be our strength in all the trials in life that we will have.

Whether or not we mean to, most of us have a habit of making God smaller than he really is. “Everyone approaches God with a set of preconceptions gleaned from many sources,” say Yancey. “Church, Sunday school lessons, stray comments by believers and skeptics alike.” Such images aren’t necessarily a bad thing. After all without mental images of some kind, it would be impossible to think about God at all. But we need to remember that the God who we clothe in these images is in truth much bigger than we can actually imagine. When we’re not shrinking God down, we’re often busy doing just the opposite, shrinking ourselves down, pretending that God is too big and too important to hear us. Who am I to bother God with my problem? we ask. God doesn’t have time to listen to me.

Wrong. When we pray, we are entering God’s time—eternity. And eternity is very different from time as we ordinarily experience it. rather than picture God as a busy switchboard operator juggling incoming requests, we should thing of him as a deeply relaxed and sympathetic listener, a power who can absorb all of our thoughts and prayers and needs. As Jewell writes: “To enter God’s time is to accept that he is always available. He’s not hiding way off in the future. God is available now.” And as Yancey puts it, “The common question, ‘How can God listen to millions of prayers at once?’ betrays an inability to think outside time. God’s infinite greatness, which we would expect to diminish us, actually makes possible the very closeness that we desire. A God unbound by our rules of time has, quite literally, all the time in the worlds for each one of us. – Ptolemy Tompkins

The Power of Changes (2 of 2)

Ten, we explored the skies, and discovered how far from friendly if could actually be. When the conditions turn sunny to icy, we learned how pilots and aircraft personnel deal with flight hazards such a s in-flight icing. Currently, there are a number of tools and techniques devised to handle this problem but, any changes or modifications to up the safety factor, and of course with the help of technology, will always be welcome in the aviation industry.

Finally, we wend deep, 400 meters below the sea floor to be exact. We witnessed a change in perspective, as we learned about other processes aside from photosynthesis that can drive the survival of organisms. Deep-sea radiation, radiolysis, and natural radioactivity were just some of the new concepts we learned in this article.

Changes are happening all the time—around us and within us. Life is more fulfilling if we lean to accept changes, rather than resist it.

The Power of Changes (1 of 2)

Ask yourself, “Why is change so important in our lives?” if you think about it, not every change is positive. Sometimes, we feel it’s better for the people and the situations we are in, to remain the way they are. However, without change, there are life experiences we might be missing out on. Beyond our self-exploration, we should also consider that the world cannot possibly exist without going through necessary changes.

Like if we talk about volcanic activity and how it affects the integrity of the ozone layer. Volcanic emissions changes the balance between the amount of radiation Earth receives from the Sun and the amount of energy Earth Reflects back to space. We also noted how this change can eventually lead to the destruction of the ozone layer. And while this change can be viewed as something that the world is better off without. We should also remember its geologic e=importance in building the Earth’s crust. Volcanic activity is always good for farmlands, as it enriches the soil with rare minerals.

Next, we got to see changes at the microscopic level, as we looked at how a unique “bug” is able to pull a Midas trick on gold ores. Know s the Midas bug, we saw how this particular species of bacteria plays a significant role in the formation of secondary gold grains. We also got to discover the possibilities of this kind of information, especially in the field of bioprocessing and gold prospecting.

Mother and Child

Tikoy on a more relaxing position

This is more relaxing to me! Soft . . . hi, hi, hi !

Life changing decisions (2 of 2)

Sometimes the changes are not at all what was expected, but they nevertheless cause changes that alter the direction we are presently taking. Those changes might please us but perhaps they might not.

When my sister married, she thought she was in for a life of happiness. She never expected the love of her life to walk out on her.

And when she decided to marry a second time, she believed it would be better than her first marriage. It was worse. Her husband beat her and abused her in so many ways. She was freed from him only when he took his own life. After that, she decided that marriage was not for her and she lived alone with her son for a while.

Then she met another man who fell in love with her. She hesitated after all the trauma she suffered from her two previous marriages. She finally decided that this man was right for her. It was a decision that would change her life

This time she was right. He was a very good man and she had many happy years with him till he died of cancer. There will be times also when we make what we believe are minor decisions in life, but that turn out being more important than we ever imagined. Because we cannot know what the future might hold, life can look like the throw of the dice. But it isn’t. When we make careful and informed decisions, we stand a better chance (yes, chance) of doing what’s best. Still, we need to be ready for any eventuality. - Bob Garon

Call my office at 826-6107 or 825-1771 or e-mail at goldenvalues_@yahoo.com.ph or write at P.O. Box 2099 MCPO, Makati City.

Life-changing decisions (1 of 2)

Good morning friends. In our life, there are times that we have to give a wise decision even if it’s not favor to us. We have to consider everything. When we are going to decide, that’s the time our life may change forever. After reading one article, I just remember the story of my friend. It’s really nice and I want to share this all with you.

Sometimes, it just takes one decision to change your life forever. When I was 28, I decided to come to the Philippines. That one decision changed my life forever. I often wonder what would have happened to me if I had remained in the United States. For sure my life would have gone off in another direction. But what kind of direction is known only to God.

My older sister made a decision to marry her high school sweetheart. It changed her life forever. After 10 years of marriage, he walked into the house from work, told her he did not love her anymore, got his things and left her for someone else. It was the beginning of years of hardship and suffering for her.

Ten years ago, I decided to return to my first love: drug rehabilitation. It was something I truly wanted to do, but did not for almost 20 years. I regretted not having done so earlier (wrong decision) but then I corrected that with another decision and again my life changed forever (until the next life-changing decision).

Everyday we make decisions but most of them are not life changing. They are decisions that keep us going on a chosen path. It is when we sometimes choose to make a decision that we know could make a difference in our life that some real changes will take place.

Tikoy's relaxing moment

What a relaxing moment I have here . . . :)

Japan to hire 30 skilled workers from Negros

Good morning everyone. Japan will be hiring 30 skilled workers from Negros. This will mean a lot to all people there. They saw the kindness of Japanese government for helping pilipino people. It will be a great help to those 30 skilled workers who will be chosen.

SOME 19 Japanese contractors will hire 30 skilled workers from the province of Negros Occidental.

Kunimori Saito, training consultant of the Multi Contractor Cooperative (Marucon), said they came to the Philippines, especially Negros, to hire Filipino skilled workers such as carpenters and masons, among others.

Saito said 50 companies from Japan gathered together to hire skilled workers from the Philippines.

He added that for the last five years, they already sent almost 500 Filipino skilled workers to Japan. Last year, they hired almost 62 Filipino skilled workers.

Yoshitaka Kukuminato, president of the Philippine Japan Technical Skills Development Association, said since the day of the hiring, they already received almost 150 applicants from Negros Occidental with 30 of the applicants to be chosen.

Marucon conducted a screening selection Sunday from among the 150 applicants. The lucky 30 would be finalized today.

He said they prefer to hire Filipino skilled workers because they are competitive and hardworking compared to other workers from Asian countries.

Kukuminato said despite the global economic crisis, they would still continue training Filipinos to be sent to Japan, a country that is also affected by the recession. - Sunstar

A Sweet Smile

A smile that is sweet,
Is a good thing:
It heals you sadness,
It removes your sorrow.

Naggers (2 of 2)

Sometimes the differences are wonderful since they fulfill one’s needs. But there are also times when the differences become flashpoints. Times when a meeting of the minds just isn’t possible. Again, unless the matter at hand will seriously disrupt the relationship, strong couples come to the conclusion that it isn’t worth fighting about and agree to disagree.

Not so with couples who do not have the same level of love. They hold to their respective positions come what may. They say that they do so as a matter of principle, even if it means sacrificing a measure of peace and harmony in the process. They have not learned to dance with the music that they don’t like.

Happy couples understand the meaning and importance of compromise. And they accept that any compromise will call for adjustment, adaptability and consequently, change. Change that might not be of their liking, but change that is necessary in order to keep the fires of their love burning brightly. And because they value their love so dearly, they accept change wholeheartedly even if it hurts. They put their pride in their pocket and show a measure of humility as they submit to the compromise agreement.

You don’t see this in lesser relationships. Spouses would rather remain entrenched in their ways rather than give an inch. And if and when they do bend, they do it with a scowl and a heavy heart that clearly says, “I give in, but I hate it.” This isn’t something that promotes love.

Loving couples do as little as they can do disrupt their relationship and everything in their power to enhance it. And they do this on a 24-hour basis. Always alert, always attentive. Their love demands it. – Bob Garon

Call at 820-6107 or 825-1771 or e-mail me at gvcbuenca@vasia.com or write me at P.O. Box 2099 MCPO, Makati City.

Naggers (1 of 2)

Good morning everyone. I just remember what my friend told me before about her mother. She told me how her mother nagged her father. She saw how they fought when her mother talked a lot. Sometime, when you nag a person, it helped. The person who was nagged realized the mistakes. But most of the time nagging is just that start of the fight.

Couples whose love has withstood the test of time and emerged happier and more meaningful than ever have a way of dealing with each other’s bad habits. They don’t nag because they have seen the futility of it all.

Naggers usually have right on their side. It’s difficult to argue with them, so they usually win the battle. Sadly, however, they rarely win the war. This is because the one nagged doesn’t listen and tunes out. This is why the nagger has to keep nagging endlessly. Her (or his) yakking is as ineffectual as water off a duck’s back.

Solid couples understand that nagging gets nothing done, but only exacerbates matters. They find other ways to bring about change. They cajole, compromise and gently prod. And often, unless the situation is serious, they simply keep silent and learn to live with it. After all, they know and accept that their love is imperfect and that this is one of those imperfections that comes with the whole package.

Look at couples whose marriages are not going well. Though the nagging is clearly ineffective and damaging to the relationship, they go on doing it. They are like the kamikaze pilot intent on destroying even if it means blowing oneself up.

Which brings me to the next strength that is somewhat similar. Strong couples agree to disagree. The reason why they were attracted to each other in the first place is because they are different.

Message of Butterflies' Wings

Good morning friends. I just remember when I’m still young, I just love to see a butterfly specially when she is resting on a flower. I wonder how why she love to rest on it. I ran to the butterfly and try to catch it. The butterfly just flew away. It rested again on another flower. It is sucking the nectar of the flower. When I look at its pretty wings, it folds its wings when it rests. And it opens its wings when it flies. I asked myself why butterflies did that. There are times in our life we experience a situation even we don’t want, but in every situation God is always in our side and He will always care for us as we least expected.

At that point, I was pondering whether there was justice from heaven that allows such tragedies to happen. But, even in my desperation, I knew that i wanted to believe in God and His love. So prayer is the one that ease my feelings. I fervently prayed every day especially before I went to bed.

I asked for a sing with butterflies, although I hadn’t heard of butterflies signifying the soul or spirit. I sometimes even asked for specific colors—blue, yellow and green butterflies.

My agony of being alone without someone on my side just passed. I was very heartbroken, and remained under. I doubted now if I have really lost my faith in God had He not done so, but I am more certain at that point of His love.

I believe now that He loves me more than I do ever love myself. And I also know that He loves me for He answered my prayer in my hour of need. He ended my suffering for being heartbroken. And I’m really grateful for what He did. I praise Him so much. I love you God!

One word can change everything . . . THANKS. (3)

I stayed there and sleep at the hospital. I was there in the room of my mom when she was brought first before she brought to the ICU. My sister still stayed at the ICU. She was allowed to stay there as she is a doctor. That night I was sitting on a chair and think a lot. I know that my mom even if she was in coma, was in bad pain. But for me, I can’t allow that the respirator be pulled out of her. I want my mom to live more, to live longer. I prayed a lot to God that He take care of my mom and remove all her pain, open her eyes, and get well. I beg a lot to my God about it. I can’t hardly look at my mom with her situation. I cried a lot there in that room as I am alone and my sister was with my mom. I didn’t know that time that I fell asleep.

My sister woke me up by holding my shoulder. I thought I was dreaming that time. She asked me to go with her. We went to the ICU. And then I saw my mom without a respirator and her eyes close. I smiled that time because I thought she got well. Why sister told me, “Mom is dead.” I came near her fast and hug my mom. I cried so much, as I didn’t saw my mom still breathing even only because of the respirator. Then my sister told me that I should go back to the room and wait her there. So I went there and continue my crying.

As I was waiting there, somehow, it was good that my mom was beside God now. She will not feel any pain anymore. And her sufferings were ended. I prayed to God and thank Him that He doesn’t let my mom suffered so much. And He didn’t allow us to decide to pull out the respirator. At least we will not have the guilt that why should we pull out the respirator. Thank you God. Thank you for everything.

One word can change everything . . . THANKS. (2)

I was so happy and very thankful to my sister for doing all the best she can, to care my mom. I took a deep breath, and then I said to my sister, “Ate Ester, thanks for taking such a good care for mom; I know she will be very happy for what you are doing.”

I walked back towards my mom. I kissed her on her cheek and I started to cry again because I can’t control my feelings. My sister pulled my shoulder and led me to the door and told me that I should stop crying because she might also get faint when I continued on crying.

The following day, I visited again my mom in the hospital. I want to know her condition. Again when I saw her, I didn’t control my tears. It dropped again. I remember that moment that my mom used to said to my sister that if she will be admitted to the hospital for some illness, never put any machine on her. My sister told me that she was fainted that time when another doctor put that respirator machine on her mouth.

After that one week stayed in the ICU, some of my relatives talked to us and told us that we should have to decide whether to pull out the respirator or not. They explained to us the practicality of the situation, as they knew that we are not rich to support the stay of my mom in the ICU. And also they are aware that my mom was having a hard time with that condition. I knew even that if my mom can speak, she would told us that she was in hard pain and she might just told us also that it should be better to pull out the respirator so that all the pain will be gone. That costs much. My relatives, also wants my mom to live longer. But with her condition like that, it’s really impossible. Only miracle can do, to make my mom well. My dad and my two other sisters talked about it. We knew that our relatives were somewhat right. But we can’t sign any paper just to let the doctor pull the respirator. Because when that will happen, my mom will stop breathing. So we have a unanimous decision. We will not pull the respirator of my mom, even if we are aware that we will have a huge hospital bill.

One word can change everything . . . THANKS. (1)

I glanced at the bulletin board in my mom’s hospital room before I entered there. At first I was hesitant to enter the room as I don’t want to see what my mom looks like when she is lying on her bed. She got a heart stroke. I was praying that time before I enter, and that time I wish that she will be in good condition. Because I know the condition of a person who had a heart stroke.

I opened the door a little as there is this fear in me that she was not looking ok. But I told myself that I have to fight for that feeling because I might not see her alive when I get coward to see her real condition. So I enter the room, I saw my mom lying, I am not aware, but my tears fall that time. I saw my mom with a machine on her mouth . . . It was a respirator. I cried a so much when I saw her. I knew the will be result of having respirator. It means my mom can’t breath on her own. I came near to her and hug her very tight. Whispering to her ears . . . “Mom open your eyes and talk to me, I am here.” That was the words that came into my mouth. My sister was there looking at me and also crying. I didn’t expect that my mom will look like that. I just thought the she was just only lying there and sleeping. It’s very painful for me that I almost wanted to faint.

I sit on the chair for sometime there. Remembering all what my mom felt when she was still in her mild stroke. My mom never complained of any pain as she had a tough years. She was just sitting in one corner of the bed, looking far. My sister came to me and accompany me outside the room as she feels that I should stop crying. My sister is the one who was taking care of my mom while she was in the ICU section of the hospital. My sister is a doctor. She gave her all the care to my mom.

Rules for handling anger (5)

Let each one of you speak truth... - Ephesians 4:25 NKJV
Rule 5: Keep it in the laundry room. 'Don't treat each other with malice' [ill will, spite] (Ephesians 4: 31 NIV). When you're angry, spreading gossip is hard to resist. But malicious talk is like wildfire; it consumes those who spread it and those who listen to it. Don't display your dirty wash; keep it in the laundry room. Dirty laundry gets aired in two ways: 1) Open embarrassment. You say it where you know others are going to hear it. 2) Subtlety. You make jokes about their figure, family members and friends, etc., in order to belittle them. This results in embarrassment for the person you're angry at, widens the gap between you and makes reconciliation impossible. Solomon writes: '... He that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter' (Proverbs 11:13), and '... Love covereth all sins' (Proverbs 10:12). Paul writes: '... In malice be babes, but in understanding be mature' (1Corinthians 14:20 NKJV).

Rule 6: Be part of the clean-up crew. We say, 'They brought it on themselves. Let them get over it.' They may have deserved it, but we can't walk away and leave open wounds to become infected. We '... forgive, even as Christ... has forgiven' us (Ephesians 4: 32). How did Christ forgive us? After we'd acknowledged, confessed and repented of our sins? No. '... When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son... ' (Romans 5:10). God took the initiative, so forgive, before the other person asks for forgiveness. And should they remain your enemy for life, forgive them anyhow. That's mopping up after the war. Only then are you yourself forgiven, the wounds you inflicted healed, and your record before God expunged!

SoulFood Bible Readings: 2 Kings 18:17-20:21, Luke 1:57-66, Ps 139:13-24, Pr 13:25 Source: "The Word for Today", brought to you by Rhema Broadcasting Group in association with The Vine - www.thevine.co.nz™

Rules for handling anger (4)

Let each one of you speak truth... - Ephesians 4:25 NKJV Rule 4: Keep it solution-focused. Someone has said that fellowship is like two fellows in a ship: one can't sink the other without sinking himself. By seeking to gain the upper hand you both lose. By seeking to save and strengthen the relationship you both win. So when you speak, be sure it's '... helpful for building others up according to their needs... ' (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). Try to understand what the other person needs. Don't bring up previously confessed offenses; don't drag in other people; don't use wisecracks about people's weight, height, colour, IQ, physical, mental and emotional limitations; don't bring up unrelated things that cloud the issue and keep you from finding a solution. And don't raise the volume in order to intimidate and manipulate. God made you with a capacity for anger because when handled the right way it's the fuel that brings needed change and the medicine that heals. So: a) Seek a solution, not a 'victory.' Name-calling and 'diagnosing' others only makes things worse. Your focus should not be on what they did, but on what you can do together to resolve it b) admit your own flaws and ask for forgiveness. Since it takes two to tango, acknowledging your own imperfections makes it easier for someone else to acknowledge theirs c) every time you take a 'swing' at someone, offer them a positive 'stroke.' '... If there be any virtue... think on these things' (Philippians 4:8). For each of the difficulties you address, give a compliment. 'I'm sure this wasn't easy for you to hear. Thanks for listening to me so graciously.' Being solution-focused gives people something positive to live up to, not down to! SoulFood Bible Readings: 2 Kings 16:1-18:16, Luke 1:39-56, Ps 139:7-12, Pr 13:
Source: "The Word for Today", brought to you by Rhema Broadcasting Group in association with The Vine - www.thevine.co.nz™

Rules For Handling Anger (3)

Let each one of you speak truth... - Ephesians 4:25 NKJV

Rule 3: Keep it current. Storing anger in your hard drive only hurts you. When you download old resentments you start to rehearse them and grow bitter. 'The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks' (Luke 6:45 NIV).

When you're angry deal with it quickly. Don't passively allow time to decide your options, or sit around hoping the other person will see the light and apologise. 'If your brother sins against you, go [to] him... ' (Matthew 18:15 NIV). Try to resolve it and restore the relationship. When you repress it you add one more skeleton to your closet. Sooner or later, doctors say, it'll be at your stomach lining, attack your immune system, predispose you to heart problems, cancers and other physical, social and emotional disorders. Meantime, it'll preoccupy you, dissipate your energy, cripple your creativity, hinder your fellowship with God, your friends and fellow believers; not to mention that it denies the offender the opportunity to clear their conscience, repent and get right with God and you. Stop dragging up the past, trying to blackmail the guilty by hauling skeletons out of closets at 'auspicious' moments, plotting revenge, and passing down resentments for the next generation to carry. Ask God for the humility and courage to deal with today's problems - today. When your head hits the pillow tonight, know that your issues are current, up to date with God and everyone else, and sleep well!

SoulFood Bible Readings: 2 Kings 13-15, Luke 1:26-38, Ps 139:1-6, Pr 13:21-23

Source: "The Word for Today", brought to you by Rhema Broadcasting Group in association with The Vine - www.thevine.co.nz ™

Rules For Handling Anger (2)

Let each one of you speak truth... - Ephesians 4:25 NKJV

Rule 2: Keep it non-lethal. Paul writes: 'In your anger do not sin... ' (Ephesians 4:26 NIV). What do Paul's words mean? Don't let your anger escalate to the point of doing damage. Don't use your words as a weapon or a control mechanism. It's okay to express your emotions in a healthy way, but keep them in check. Your goal must be to resolve the problem and strengthen the relationship, not 'sound off' and wound the other person. Is this easy to do? No. You'll need a good strong dose of grace to do it. Words spoken in jest, sarcasm, self-righteousness or 'righteous indignation' wound people, sometimes permanently. '... Perverseness [of the tongue] breaks the spirit.' (Proverbs 15:4 NKJV). '... A crushed spirit who can bear?' (Proverbs 18:14 NIV). 'The tongue can bring death... ' (Proverbs 18:21 NLT). Angry words, once unleashed, can: '... Go down into a man's inmost parts' (Proverbs 26:22 NIV). Your words can live in the heart and memory of a person and go all the way to the grave with them. We say, 'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me,' but it's not true. A person can die of a crushed spirit, and the one who spoke the words can live to regret the damage they inflicted and never get a chance to undo it. On the other hand, anger properly handled never needs to be repented of. So learn to differentiate between the anger you feel and the words you speak. Anger carefully thought through, can reveal important information about needed changes. Focus on that, and ask God to show you what needs changing in the other person; and you!

SoulFood Bible Readings: 2 Kings 10-12, Luke 1:11-25, Ps 73:17-28, Pr 13:20

Source: "The Word for Today", brought to you by Rhema Broadcasting Group in association with The Vine - www.thevine.co.nz ™

Rules For Handling Anger (1)

Good morning friends. The good friend of mine just in the process of healing the wound in her heart. She is doing everything just to mend her broken heart. I think she subscribed a inspirational words and she share me all the good words she received. One of it is about the anger. How you can handle it. It’s inspiring and I also want to share it to you all.

Let each one of you speak truth... - Ephesians 4:25 NKJV

Two forceful personalities in a relationship are like two rivers flowing into one; there's going to be a strong current. Anger can be instant like a flash of lightning, or prolonged like the rumble of thunder. Sometimes we clash painfully, other times we distance and silently abandon the relationship. But anger handled the right way doesn't have to destroy. Here are God's rules for handling your anger.Rule 1: Keep it honest. 'Stop telling lies. Let us tell... the truth... don't sin by letting anger control you... ' (Ephesians 4:25-26 NLT). When you're angry don't deny it. Anger can be constructive. We're right to get angry when people are mistreated and wrongs are not made right. Saying, 'I've been feeling angry and because I value our relationship I'd like to talk about it,' is honest, non-threatening and invites resolution. Observe: a) ignoring, stifling, suppressing, or pretending you're not angry is basically dishonest b) another form of lying when you're angry is exaggeration. 'You never listen to what I say.' 'You always ignore my wishes.' 'Nobody does anything around here except me.' Such generalizations are untrue and serve only to aggravate and polarise, guaranteeing the real problem gets obscured and goes unsolved c) another way to lie when you're angry is blaming. 'If you'd arrive on time I wouldn't have to nag you,' or 'If you'd quit nagging so much, maybe I'd start being on time.' Blaming is a way of evading your own responsibility while pointing the finger at others. It angers others, perpetuates your own anger and never produces the result you want. God's way is, 'Let each one of you speak truth,' and it works when you do it in love.

SoulFood Bible Readings: 2 Kings 7-9, Luke 1:1-10, Ps 73:1-16, Pr 13:17-19 If you've been encouraged by The Word for Today, then your friends will be too.

Source: "The Word for Today", brought to you by Rhema Broadcasting Group in association with The Vine - www.thevine.co.nz ™

Warning over Michael Jackson e-mail virus

Good morning everyone. We all know that Michael Jackson was no longer with us. He left us and he is now with our God. We are all aware that many were the avid fan of the King of Pop. Many gathered pictures and collect some of his videos for their collections. I’m sure that Michael saw everything what his fans doing with the memory of him. But we should be all very careful because there is this advice that there is a warning over Michael Jackson e-mail virus.

Computer security firm Sophos issued a warning about an Internet virus transmitted from a mass e-mail claiming to contain secret songs and photos of Michael Jackson.

The e-mail comes with the subject “Remembering Michael Jackson” and is sent from “sarah@michaeljackson.com,” Sophos said in a statement sent by its Asia office in Singapore.

It tells recipients that an attached file titled “Michael songs and pictures.zip” contains secret songs and photos of the pop music icon, who died of a heart attack in the United States on June 25.
Sophos warned computer users not to open the attachment.

“By opening the attachment, computer users are exposed to infection. Once infected, a computer will begin automatically spreading the worm onto other Internet users,” Sophos said.

“Besides spreading via e-mail, Sophos experts note that the malware is also capable of spreading as an Autorun component on USB memory sticks.”

Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant at Sophos, said many computer users are likely to be tempted to open the attachment because of the feverish interest in the King of Pop’s sudden death.

“But sensible computer users should by now be well aware that cybercriminals will be quick to exploit news events to spread malware and spam,” he said. “Anyone who receives this email should delete it immediately to save themselves the embarrassment of infecting their e-mail contacts.” –The Manila Times

The million-peso mistake (2)

At this writing, the cops around the world have been alerted through Interpol and are looking for them. Chances are they will get them and they will go to jail, but not before spending as much as they can and having as much fun as possible with the stolen money.

Why they would think they could get away with this foolish act is beyond me. I supposed the sight of all that money sitting there before them was too much of a temptation to resist. And perhaps they believed that all that money would insure their getaway and guarantee that they could hide forever in luxury. And even if their reputation is smashed into little pieces, maybe they couldn’t care less considering that they are now multi-millionaires.

Have you noticed how those who have stolen big bucks no longer care if the whole world knows they are crooked even if they have never been convicted? It is as if the money is more of a comfort to them than their good name and reputation. The dirty money has succeeded in silencing their conscience and covering their name with a cloak of seeming decency.

Their children and their children’s children will have to deal with the consequences of their ill-advised actions. They too might be led by the stolen money to deal with the devil themselves in order to enjoy the ill-gotten wealth of their father. They will have to build a wall of money around themselves and look for those of like mind to associate with, since men of honor will have nothing to do with them.

The million-peso mistake (1)

Good morning everyone. In our life we always commit mistakes even if we don’t want it to happen. It’s like an accident. Anytime it can be happen. With the words of Bob Garon that inspired me a lot in life. He told us how to have a good quality of life. Not just living in this world. Learn to accept the mistakes what we’ve done. I want to share you what he wrote.

A few years ago, the bank my wife, Emmy, was dealing with, made a terrible mistake. They credited her with more than a million pesos that was not ours. There it was, a million-peso-mistake sitting in our bank account. Emmy never hesitated. She immediately called the bank and told them of their unsolicited “gift.” She knew that the money wasn’t ours and that it could never be ours and knew right away that it was a mistake that had to be corrected soonest.

It was, and the person who made the mistake called Emmy to thank her. It was a gaffe that could have cost her job and she was so grateful that my wife quickly rectified the error and saved every one from a lot of heartache.

I was reminded of this when I watched a report on TV that told of a couple who had been into a similar situation, but responded in a very different manner. It seems that somebody made a horrible error and put into the couple’s account millions of dollars. What the couple did was quickly take the money and run. They left their house, their work and their good name and took off with the loot.

Michael Jackson dies (2)

Organizers of the concerts at the time stressed the delay was not linked to Jackson's health.

While Jackson reigned as the "King of Pop" in the 1980s, his once-stellar career had been overshadowed by his colorful public behavior, his startling physical transformation and multiple allegations of child abuse.

Jackson lived as a virtual recluse following his 2005 acquittal on charges including child molestation and plotting to kidnap his young accuser.

Despite his acquittal, the trial was a body blow from which the pop music superstar struggled to recover.

Four years later, Jackson is still worshipped by fans for revolutionizing music, dance and music videos at the peak of his success.

The attention however paid to him in recent years has been less flattering, focusing on apparent cosmetic surgery -- which he denies -- his baby dangling antics and a decade of swirling child abuse allegations.

Born on August 29, 1958, Jackson made his show business debut with four of his older brothers in the Jackson Five pop group, and went on to lead the stage clan with a piping soprano and dazzling dance moves.

By 1969, the group had signed a contract with Motown Records, becoming one of the last great acts to emerge from the legendary label.

The Jacksons produced seven platinum singles for Motown, selling over a million, and three multi-platinum albums, selling more than two million. They moved to CBS's Epic Records in 1976.
Despite the early success, Jackson was to recall those years as unhappy and lonely ones. Eventually the family act broke up, as Jackson went solo.

In 1979, Quincy Jones produced Jackson's first solo album for Epic, "Off the Wall," a huge disco-oriented success that sold 10 million copies.They teamed up again in 1982 for what would be Jackson's breakthrough album as a composer and co-producer, "Thriller," which became the top-selling album of all time, with sales exceeding 41 million. - Agence France-Presse

Photo courtesy: imagecache2

Michael Jackson dies (1)

It’s a shocking news about many of the people who idolize Michael Jackson. It happened so fast. I was heard the new this early morning when I’m listening to the radio while taking my breakfast. I also got shocked when I heard about it. He is a great performer so I’m sure Michael will be one of the great loss in the industry of music.

Pop icon Michael Jackson has died, a Los Angeles County Coroner's office spokesman confirmed Thursday, sending shockwaves rippling across the entertainment world.

Lieutenant Fred Corral told CNN Jackson, 50, was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. (2126 GMT) local time after reportedly suffering a cardiac arrest.

"I can tell you at this time that we were notified by West Los Angeles Police Department detectives that Mr Jackson was transported ... to the hospital, and upon admitting, he was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at approximately 2:26 this afternoon," Corral told CNN.

Corral said an autopsy would "most likely" be carried out on Friday but would not speculate on the exact cause of death.

"Everything is still ongoing. We will be responding to the hospital to move Mr Jackson to our facility where he will be examined to determine the cause of death," Corral said.

"As far as I'm aware, we were notified by LAPD detectives that Mr Jackson was brought in by paramedics to the hospital in full cardiac arrest and then he was later pronounced dead.

"At that point, as I said, there's no further medical history until we get and review the medical records."

This came as Jackson prepared to make a keenly anticipated concert comeback in London, his first series of shows in more than a decade and the first since his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges.However those concerts -- billed as the "final curtain" -- had been thrown into doubt after Jackson pushed back the opening dates last month. - Agence France-Presse

photo courtesy: bbc

Motherly Wrath (2)

Sadly, such competition with one’s own children is more common than you think. When a marriage is not going well and a spouse turns to a child for much needed support and love that the partner cannot or will not give, jealousy, anger, abuse and neglect will often surface.

Dad is jealous of his son who is so close to mom. He resents his son and feels that the boy is receiving the love and affection from the mother that belongs to him. The boy becomes a silent competition for the mother’s love. And the kid is always at the losing end as far as his father is concerned.

You would be surprised at how often this happens. In similar fashion, when the daughter is dad’s favorite, the wife will resent the attention the girl is getting if she feels her husband love is wanting. She might deny it till she is blue in the face, but her irritation and impatience with the girl will be a sure sign that it is so. Often, the anger and jealousy will break out in open conflict as the mother and daughter make war on each other.

We always say that we want a better life for our kids than we had, but the truth is that sometimes there is a feeling that the children are far luckier than the parents. And, unless the parents are solid and mature, there can be resentment and anger towards them. Not something that the parent is ready to admit to, but something that is obvious to those who know the family.

Can parents become jealous and envious of their own children? Absolutely, if the conditions are right. - Bob Garon

If you have problems about drugs, alcohol and behavior/attitude call my office at 820-6107 or 825-1771 or e-mail me at goldenvalues_school@yahoo.com.ph or write me at P.O. Box 2099 MCPO, Makati City.

Motherly wrath (1)

Good morning friends. There are some mothers who loved their kds very much. As if they are their life. They care a lot to them when they are still young, and as they grow old, still our mother cares. They never stop caring their children. But some of the mothers were so cruel to their kids. When their kids made a small mistake, they easily scolded them and sometimes lay their hands on their kids. This is not right, because as the kids grow, they will remember all the things that their mother did to them. I read the news written by my favorite author, I want to share this with you all. Not only to all mothers but also to the children out there.

I heard a disturbing story the other day about how a beautiful woman, a former model, would physically and verbally abuse her daughter. The reason: as she got older and her daughter grew in beauty into her teen years, she became jealous and envious of the youngster. She would beat her and give her verbal tongue lashings. The mother could not stand watching her daughter blossom even as her own beauty began to fade.

Needless to say, the pretty teenager was suffering from low self-esteem. Her self-confidence and sense of self-worth crippled her badly. You can only imagine how terrible she felt. Eventually her father saved her from further abuse by separating from the mother and taking his daughter away with him.

Any mother who behaves in this way must be a very troubled woman with deep insecurities. When she allows herself to be drawn into feelings of jealousy and envy of her own flesh and blood, that is a clear sign of deep insecurity. - Bob Garon

If you have problems about drugs, alcohol and behavior/attitude call my office at 820-6107 or 825-1771 or e-mail me at goldenvalues_school@yahoo.com.ph or write me at P.O. Box 2099 MCPO, Makati City.